By Sally Edwards
Some Chertsey Life readers may be accomplished gardeners who can recognise a few plant species, but as for me, I’m green but keen to learn and luckily a step ahead in the gardening curve. For me, doing little or less might be the future as we have to ask the question: to garden or not to garden?
Jordan’s Cereals UK conducted a survey which found that during Covid-19 we Brits became obsessive pruners in the name of boredom. We weeded, hoed and mowed like madmen. But if we want to save the planet and encourage pollination, then why not down tools and let Mother Nature have a bit more fun? When we over-garden, insects can’t do their biz (or is it buzz?). Think what life we can create if we let that border run a bit wilder? We have the potential to create life, just by leaving that hedge alone!
I recently moved house and inherited a landscaped garden. My first project is to replace some lawn with wildflower meadow. It’s still not 100% wild (you need to prepare the ground and digging soil releases carbons) but it’s a start to becoming comfortable with ‘non-gardening’. The RSPB have also promised me more birds if I succeed in my perfect imperfect garden.
The Wildlife Trust and Royal Horticultural Society have partnered to encourage mini wildernesses with their Wild About Gardens programme online.
You can ‘Pledge A Patch’ to butterflies if that gets your wings beating. The Pledge means, if you struggle with the idea of not pruning the life out of everything (literally), you choose just a small dedicated area to promote natural growth and even I can manage that.
From May to July you can check out the wildflower meadows at Chertsey Meads. Until then, take advantage of the November weather and consider slowing it all down. If you can’t restrain yourself then consider some of the following ideas: expand your composting, plant climbers along your walls or fences (Jasminum nudiflorum and camelia sasanqua Narumigata bloom in autumn-winter), create woodpiles and ‘bug hotels’ from bits of old wood, stones and cane, grow plants for butterflies like Honesty, Buckthorn or Hedge Garlic or even create a pond (not for the faint-hearted!). Enjoy your savage garden and get ready for a wild Spring!
